Monthly Archives: March 2018

It feels funny sitting down to write a President’s Announcement so late in the month, but life has been busy and it has been all about trials. What a year so far! We started the season at Trackrock with Frank Alexander hosting 142 rides on March 3rd and 4th (88 riders on Saturday and 54 on Sunday). There was concern when we scheduled Trackrock so early in the year that we might have to deal with rain or possibly snow. Despite the area being hammered by rain the week prior, conditions were ideal for rounds one and two of the 2018 STRA Championship Series. Sections were long and the loop was great. Saturday’s ride concluded with Frank’s annual awards presentation combined with a spaghetti dinner. We had special visitors to the event on Saturday including a local newspaper reporter getting the story on trials (you will have to ask Frank how the article came out) and a photographer from National Geographic Magazine. Bill Land happened to be in the area visiting friends and saw the event posted and wanted to come check it out. He conveyed that he used to work for Yamaha and loved trials. He thought the pictures on our website needed an update so he shot a few complementary photos to add to our collection (look out Rob Fox, you have competition!)

The very next week on March 10th and 11th, the Florida Trials Association (FTA) hosted their annual Fun in the Sun event. Rounds three and four of the Championship series again had a good turnout and the weather was ideal. The sections for this event were traditionally challenging with the winning scores for each class as high as the age of most of the baby boomers riding. STRA members made up an average of 65% of the riders at this event which was a great showing for our association. The Fun in the Sun had its traditional T-shirts and handmade trophies which always make this event memorable. There was also a raffle held to raise money for one of the FTA’s young riders, Mika Lonsdale, in order to buy him a pair of trials boots. Our very own Jimmy Sharpe was the raffle winner earning a new pair of Hebo boots for his five dollar donation.

Results for each of the rounds of the Championship series can be found on the STRA Facebook page and the current Championship point standings are in the Results section of this site.

As a product of great turnouts for the first two events of the year and the large number of annual STRA membership renewals, I am pleased to announce that we are now in the black financially as an association. This is a great thing and we are building up the funds to host the eastern NATC/AMA National event at the Trials Training Center June 8th to the 10th of this year.

Speaking of the Trials Training Center, Trials Training Days are coming up this weekend March 24th and 25th. It is not actually an STRA event, but it takes place at the Trials Training Center and is hosted and organized by Charlie, Catherine and now Carey. The fact these people do so much for the STRA and a majority of the instructors happen to be STRA members, it is an event we like to endorse. It is good for our sport and association. So if you are not instructing, go ride it! It will only make you a better rider for the STRA.

The next event on the schedule is at Breezy Hill Farm in Maryville, TN. This is a home venue for me and one of the reasons this letter has been so delayed. The time and energy it takes to set up a trial makes me appreciate what all the promotors go through to allow us to ride and have great the weekends like we have had so far this season. With that sentiment, THANK YOU, Frank Alexander and Alex Niederer for getting this season off to a great start.

I hope to see many of you soon April 7th and 8th at the Breezy Hill Farm event. Until then, keep riding trials!